On Oct. 1, a comprehensive report about the school district's transportation program was presented to the Board of Education. This report, prepared by Pamela Gluckin, administrator for business affairs, was prompted by a number of recent developments.

First, the school district has been aware that the Long Island Expressway expansion could have an impact on student transportation when it reaches our area. The New York State Transportation Department is on schedule to begin work in East Hills and Roslyn Heights by the summer of 1999, which would affect our schools in 1999-2000 and for several years thereafter. Second, a number of parents have requested changes in our transportation policy in light of changing patterns of family life and other considerations. In light of these factors, and since our policy regarding busing has not been significantly addressed in more than a decade, the time was right for a careful review.

An emphasis on safety, a highly trained, professional staff and the maintenance of a reliable fleet of vehicles are among the most important characteristics of Roslyn's transportation program. The Kindergarten Bus Orientation in August and Operation Safe Stop, a public awareness initiative conducted in cooperation with state and local agencies, are two programs that illustrate the district's commitment to bus safety and education.

Professional development for bus drivers includes a 20-hour school bus driver course and two annual refresher courses, in addition to inservice programs provided by the school district for our employees. Our district is proud of its record of hiring local Roslyn residents, who have a real investment in our children, to work in the transportation department.

The primary advantages of the district's owning and operating a fleet of nearly 40 vehicles include flexibility in scheduling and cost savings. Contracting bus runs for local trips, for example, is far more expensive than utilizing our own staff and vehicles. In addition, we are able to extend the useful lives of our buses well beyond the average because of the care they are given in our garage.

New York State law establishes transportation mileage limits for all students in the state. All elementary students who live more than two miles from school, and high school students who live more than three miles from school, are legally entitled to bus transportation. In addition, private and parochial students are entitled to transportation up to 15 miles from their home to school.

Local school districts may, with voter approval, provide transportation to more students than those covered in the state guidelines. Roslyn's mileage limits reflect students' grade levels: 3/10 mile for kindergarten, 1/2 mile for grades 1­5, 3/4 mile for middle school and 1-1/4 miles for high school. Except for a change at the middle school last year which brought seventh and eighth grade limits into conformity with the sixth grade, the policy has remained in effect for more than a decade.

In an informal survey, realtors indicated to us that mileage is now a significant factor in home purchases in Roslyn. Prospective home buyers with small children invariably ask about busing. Working parents tend to purchase homes only where bus transportation is provided.

The Board was presented with four options regarding the mileage requirements:

* Maintain the current policy as is.

* Provide transportation to all affected students at East Hills and the middle school when the Expressway construction begins, which could be accomplished at little or no additional cost.

* Provide transportation to all K­8 students, which would have significant additional costs for the purchase or contracting of four additonal buses. One way of mitigating most of those costs would be to adjust the starting times of the two elementary schools so that East Hills, for example, would start a half hour later than Harbor Hill.

* Provide transportation to all students, K­12, which would also carry additional costs.

Any change in mileage requirements must be approved by a voter referendum, in accordance with New York State law.

We will present a follow-up to our initial report at the Nov. 5 Board meeting, including results of a transportation survey of parents recently conducted. The input of interested parents and residents in this issue is greatly encouraged and welcome before any recommendations are presented to the Board of Education in the coming months.